Sheet material dispenser



Jan. 26, 1965 M. ROZLOG ETAL SHEET MATERIAL DISPENSER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed May 1'7, 1962 INVENTOR-S M ROZLOG AND JAM S L. WILLIAMS ATTORNEYJan. 26', 1965 M. ROZLOG ET AL SHEET MATERIAL DISPENSER Filed May 17,1962 llll 5 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 4

INVENTORS.

MATT ROZLOG AND JAMES L. WILLlAMS A TTOR Y Jan. 26, 1965 M. ROZLOG ETAL3,167,367

SHEET MATERIAL DISPENSER Filed May 17, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. 5

lNVENTOR-i MATT ROZLOG AND JAMES L. WILLIAMS P I, r

TORNEY United States Patent 3,167,367 SHEET MATERIAL DISPENSER MattRozlog, 486 Cleveland Ave. SE., Brewster, Ohio, and James L. Williams,11782 Bonnie Brae Drive SW., Massillon, Ohio Filed May 17, 1962, Ser.No. 195,465 9 (Jlairns. (Cl. 3112-39) This invention relates to new anduseful improvements in material dispensing apparatus and moreparticularly to a motor driven dispenser for toilet tissue or the likematerial in rolled sheet form.

In the past mechanical dispensers, mostly hand operated, have beensuggested for the unrolling and dispensing of web or sheet material suchas paper towels, waxed paper, tape, tickets, and the like. These deviceswere generally cumbersome and expensive to build and did not generallypresent a neat unobtrusive appearance when installed.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a sheet materialdispenser that is operated by an electric motor actuated by anaccessible hand switch or button.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide anelectric tissue dispenser which may be housed entirely within a roomwall and which presents a trim neat appearance.

A further object of the invention is to provide a toilet tissuedispenser driven by an electric motor which may be easily swung out froma wall for refilling the paper supply or maintenance of the motor ordrive mechanism.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of amotor-driven feed-roll assembly for a sheet material dispenser whichresiliently engages material being fed and which will not tear orcrinkle even delicate material such as toilet tissue.

Another object of the instant invention is the provision of amotor-driven feed-roll assembly for a dispenser for perforated sheetmaterial which will permit manual pulling of the material end withouttearing intermediate two perforation lines.

It is another object of the invention to provide a chute structure for amotor-driven sheet material dispenser which serves to guide the materialfrom its roll through mating feed roll pairs and out of the dispenserdischarge opening without folding or fouling in the machine.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a motoroperated sheetmaterial dispenser bearing the above objects in mind which is ofrelatively simple construction, has a minimum number of parts, isinexpensive to manufacture, and is at all times efficient, reliable, andsafe in operation.

For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention,reference may be had to the following detailed description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the dispenser of the present inventioninstalled in a tiled bathroom wall;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the dispenser taken along theline 2-2 of FIGURE 1 and showing the ice designated generally at 10 andis shown flush mounted in the usual tiled bathroom wall 11.

The dispenser body is generally fabricated in the form of a sheet metalbox or housing 12 being open at the front and having a cut away portionat the bottom adja cent the open side. It is anticipated that plasticmay well be utilized instead of sheet metal for this purpose. A mountingflange 13 is welded or otherwise attached around the four sides of thebox to permit neat mounting in a wall recess regardless of the accuracyof the wall cut. A front sheet metal cover 14 is hingedly attached tothe box in a novel manner as shown in FIGURES 2 and 3. Perforated coverhinges 15 are secured adjacent to the bottom corners of the front coverbut spaced upwardly therefrom and are received within the bifurcation ofeach of the slide bars 16. Hinge pins 17 are employed to pivotallysecure the hinges and slide bars together. Each of the slide bars isfreely slideable within slide bar guide tubes 18 which are welded orotherwise secured to the bottom of the box 12. In order to limit theoutward movement of the slide bars, stop screws 19 are threaded intoeach of the bars adjacent their free ends and will abut the inside endof the slide bar guide tubes 18 to prohibit complete withdrawal.

It can thus be seen that in order to open the dispenser, merely pullingoutward near the top of cover 14 causes it to be pulled outwardlywithdrawing the slide bars until stop screws 19 abut against the guidetubes 18 as shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 2. The cover can then bepivoted to the horizontal position about pins 17.

In order to permit ease of maintenance and of refilling, all of themechanical elements of the feed mechanism are attached to the inside ofthe front cover '14 so as to be accessible upon opening of the cover.The rolled tissue paper or the like shown at 20 is also received withinthe front cover section.

Fixed to the inside of the cover 14 as by welds 24 are two spacedparallel side plates 21 and 22 and a bottom plate 23 which spans andcloses off the bottom between the two plates. Within the enclosuredefined by these three elements all of the mechanical elements aresupported. Adjacent the forward edge of each of the side plates a guidechute openng 25 is formed for reception of the outwardly directedforward portion of a material guide chute 26 later to be described.Additional openings 27, 28 which are slightly elongated and have roundedends are provided for reception of the pressure roll shafts 22 and 30.Further additional openings or holes are provided in each of the sideplates, not shown, for reception and journalling of various gear shaftslater described.

In order to maintain the rigidity and spacing of the side plates 21 and22, spacer bars 31, 32 are provided adjacent the upper side of theplates and spanning them. Bar 32 also serves the secondary purpose ofacting as a front support for the rolled material 20 and prevents itfro-m slipping down into the mechanical moving elements when the rolldiameter diminishes in size.

Guide chute 26 receives the sheet material and guides it downwardly tothe discharge opening 33 formed in the cover 14. This chute has ageneral box like construc tion of sheet metal or plastic and includestop plate 34, bottom plate 35 and side plates 36. The top and bottomplates flare outwardly adjacent the discharge end and the top plate isof shorter length and when viewed from above (as can be seen from FIGURE4) starts and terminates inwardly of the lower plate. The entire chuteis mounted angularly as shown in FIGURE 2 and 4 and extends between theside plates 21 and 22. As can be seen, the distance between the upperand lower plates increases with the distance from the inward chute end.The forward or discharge end of the chute is welded or otherwise securedto cover 14 about the cover discharge opening 33. The widtho'f-thechutebetween the two side plates 36 is slightly greater than the width ofthe'sheet, material to be dispensed. It'has been found that toilettissue is generallystandar clized iir'width'at 4 inches. If i the deviceis tobe adapted todispense such tissue a preferable width for. the"chute interior would be 4 /s inches. Each of'the' top and 'bott'or'n'chute plates -'is provided 4 driven gear 44 of the drive roll geartrain. It will be seen that inoperation 'drive rolls 38 and 39 will bothbe driven in the same direction due to the intermediate gear48.- W I I,

The motor 56 is connected to the 120 volt line and has. interposedtherein. a cutolf safety'switch58 and a push button start andstop-switch 5?. Safety switch 58 with roll'receiving recesses. generallyrectangular in shape enclosed from three sides. ing of the material.

Rubber drive rolls 3,8. andfhfl are fittedI securely on serves to shutoif electrical connection to the line whenever the front coverof'thedispenser, is opened. This switch isspring operated and is normally heldengaged by the slide bar 16..As soon as the slidebar 16 is pulled outslig'htlyjthe springbutton will extend cutting olf o er to the motor. IPush button 59- is of the conventional spring t-Yp and is normally offuntil depressed. If

drive roll shafts 40Qand .41, which shafts are journalled in and extendthroughopposite holes in thesi'cle plates 21 p and 22. The shafts aresopositioned that the rollv pe ripheries willlextend throughthe rollreceiving recess'es' 37-, in the bottom plate 35:"of. thechute 26..While the rolls 38 and3i9; are preferably made'ofihardrubbe'n'it v hasbeen foundjthat wood; plastic and -cork are. equally effective, The,shafts are heldffroni axialdisplacement desired, a r everse'swi-tch 69"may be'provided on the inside-of the'hox for actuation if for anyreason the material should jam up in the chute and it is desired toreverse the driveor, wind in. I

Operation of the dispenser can be readily envisioned. Material, such astoilet tissue, in roll form or even squashed into an oval is dropped'in' position between the side plate so' that itrests on the forwardspacer bar 32.

The. rear pressure roll49 is rai'sed by grasping one of the.knurledt-ake up'knobs' 61- onthe ends ofshaft 29. When Y on one sidebyrpositioning washers or clips 423wh'ich may};

fit in annularjrecesses formedein the. shafts. Onthe-op? positeend; ofie'ach of the shafts, outboard 'of' the'iside plate 21,;is fastened adriven gear 43,44 by means of a set screw'passing through'gear-hubs 45,46.; A countershaft 47; extends. between the-side plates. 21,

i 22 betweenthe drive roilshafts and is journalled'in' openings in theplates. A'similar positioning washer or clip 42 is employed atone.endcto prevent displacement. and a gear 48 is fitted on the. other endof the countershaft in the manner of'gears'43, 44- on their shafts.Gears 43,,

4d, and 48am preferably of the same size and number ment. v I

Mountedfor movement up and down in the elongated released, the spring 54will cause the paper to bepressed against the drive r'oll.;38'. Ifdesired the knob 61 may be" turned to initiate payingout of- :thematerial, otherwisezthe cover may. be closed and thegbutton SS -engaged.This will actuatethe motor 56 and rotate drive rolls '38 andi'39 rin ajpaying-but direction pull-ing the paper or o thenmat'erial off of'theroll and into the guide chute openings 27. and '23 in the side platesare the pressureroll shafts 29 and 30 which extend through the platesand are provided with clips or washers 42.- to prevent axialwith drawalandyetperrnit free play up and: down inthe slots or openings. Each ofthe pressure rollsha fts has. secured thereto a rubber, cork, or woodpressurerollzi-SO; These I pressure rolls a'removable into therollreceiving recesses 37 formedinythe chute, top plate 34. Theelongated'side plate openings 27"and 2 8 'are'ofsuihcient length topermit the pressure rolls to engage thedrive rolls 38, 39.

will tear oif betweenIthe-twopressure rollers.

and thence out of'the dischargeopening 33. When the :desired amount'offmaterial is in sight the user merely grasps the paper- 'and by onlypulling on it slightly will cause it :to tear oif within the-chuteleaving no unsightly paper protruding. through the discharge opening. Itis thef'novel pressure bar construction which achieves this of teeth andareoperatively' connectedinnieshing engage- V result. 'When the paper isgrasped and pulled-it isheld firmly by the rolls Q38 'and- 49 due to thespring action on the.- pressure has. Pressureroll' 50, however, beingfur 'ther fromlthe'springand-not having so much downward force will belifted; slightly; In most'cases ithas been found that thepaper'or tissuewhich has been perforated- It' is anticipated that the instant devicewill 'be 'useful in all: applications wherein=perforated material is tobe While we haveshown and described a 'preferred-em- In order. toprovide a resilient downward force .onthe pressure rollsso that theycooperate with'the'fe'ed roll and so that the pressure rolls can belifted slightlywhen.

the dispensed materialfis'pulled for-tearing, meansare provided to urgethe pressure rolls downwardly. This means comprises a' pairof pressurebars 51, 52 which i have openings on one side: to engage the pressureroll dispensed such as papertowelsgt'oilet tissue, wrappingtissue,.napkins, etc.-

bodiment-of the-invention, his to beunderstood that the drawingsanddetailed disclosureare-to be construed inan illustrative'rather thanalimiting sense since various modificationsand .substitutions ofequivalentsmay be made by shafts 29 and as between the side plates21,122 and the positioning washers42. Each pressure baris'provided witha small hole, 53..between the twobar openings but closer to the openingabovefthe inlet of the guide chute.

A tension spring for each pressure bar has one enclen--m gaged inhole-53iand the otherend engaged in a hole 55 formed in each ofssideplates 21 and 22 With-this;

structure the pressure roll 49. will exert more pressure against driveroll 38 than will pressureroll 50' against those; skilled in the artwithin the spirit and scopeof the invention as defi ne'd in the appendedclaims. I 1

What'we claim as new anddesire to protect byLet-ters Patent oftheUn-itedStates is: V v a l. A dispenser for sheet material comprisinga housing havingan open side, a cover normally closing said open side ofsaidxhousingjsaidcover having a discharge opening therein,- means tosupport a roll of sheet material within said housing; a dischargeopening in- 'said cover, ,a guide chute to guide ,said 'material'frornsaid rollto said.dischargefopening, a drive rolLextendingwithin saiddrive roll 39. This is because the spring 54'is attached toeach'of thepressure bars closer to the engagement with the shaft of roll 49. a

Power to drive the dispenser is accomplished by' the use of an electricmotor 56 which issecured to the bottom plate 23. This motor may be anycommerciallyavailable model but is preferably a twospeed reversiblejgearratio motor. A drive pinion 57 is 'mounted on the rotor shaft of themotor and isin driving engagementwith v chute and rotatably mountedbelow said chute within saidifhousing; a'. pressure roll" r'otatablymounted within said housing above said guide chute-and extendingtherewithin a-hdfirizcontact with' saiddrive roll, resilient meansbiasing said pressure-roll against said drive roll, and motormeansmo'untedwithin' said housing and in driving engagement with saiddriveiroll. T I

2'. A dispenseri fojr'sheet material comprising a housing having an openside, a cover normally closing said open side of saidfhousing, means tosupport a roll 'of sheet material withinsaid' housing, a dischargeopening in said drive rolls rotatably mounted within said housing belowsaid chute and extending into said chute, a plurality of parallelpressure rolls rotatably mounted within said housing above said guidechute and extending into said chute; said pressure rolls each being incontact with one of said drive rolls, each of said pressure rolls beingmounted for movement toward and away from said drive rolls, bar means incontact with said pressure rolls, resilient means in contact with saidbar means acting to bias the bar means and said pressure rollsdownwardly against said drive rolls, and motor means mounted within saidhousing and in driving engagement with said drive rolls.

3. A dispenser for sheet material as defined in claim 2 wherein saidmotor means comprises an electric motor connected by a line to a sourceof electrical potential, an on-otf switch interposed in said line, and asafety means operative upon opening of said cover to disconnect saidmotor from said source.

4. A dispenser for sheet material comprising a housing 'having adischarge opening therein, means to support a roll of sheet materialwithin said housing, a plurality of parallel drive rolls rotatablymounted in said housing between said roll of material and said opening,a plurality of parallel pressure rolls rotatably mounted in said housingbetween said roll of material and said opening and pressure rollsdownwardly against said drive rolls, and

means to drive said rolls.

5. A dispenser for sheet material as defined in claim 4 whereinsaid'resilient means comprises a tension spring connected at one endwithin the housing below said bar means and at the other end to said barmeans.

6. A dispenser for sheet material as defined in claim 4,

wherein said means to drive said drive rolls comprises an electric motorwithin said housing and a gear train operatively connected to said driverolls,

7. A dispenser for sheet material comprising a housing having one openside, a cover normally closing said open side of said housing, saidcover having a discharge opening therein, means to support a roll ofsheet material on the inside of said cover, a plurality of paralleldrive rolls rotatably mounted on said cover between said roll ofmaterial and said opening, a plurality of parallel pressure rollsro-tatably mounted on said cover between said roll of material and saidopening and above said drive rolls, each of said pressure rolls beingmounted for movement toward and away from a respective drive roll, barmeans above said plurality of pressure rolls and in contact therewith,resilient means acting on said bar means at a point immediately adjacentto the pressure roll nearest to the roll of material to force saidpressure rolls downwardly against said drive rolls, and means to drivesaid drive rolls.

8. A dispenser for sheet material as defined in claim 7, wherein saidmeans to drive said drive rolls comprises an electric motor.

9. A dispenser for sheet material as defined in claim 8, wherein saidmotor is connected to a source of electrical potential by a line, anon-oif switch interposed in said line, and a safety means operative uponopening of said cover to disconnect said motor from said source.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS454,317 Wheeler June 16, 1891 764,806 Ham July 12, 1904 804,307 FondaNov. 14, 1905 1,024,012 Matthews et a1 Apr. 23, 1912 1,072,055 StraightSept. 2, 1913 2,277,051 West Mar. 24, 1942 2,576,526 Marchand Nov. 27,1951 2,738,934 Dobkin Mar. 20, 1956 2,767,781 Hernpel Oct. 23, 19562,886,226 Batas et a1 May 12, 1959 2,910,736 Clark Nov. 3, 1959 FOREIGNPATENTS 157,071 Germany Dec. 12, 1904

1. A DISPENSER FOR SHEET MATERIAL COMPRISING A HOUSING HAVING AN OPENSIDE, A COVER NORMALLY CLOSING SAID OPEN SIDE OF SAID HOUSING, SAIDCOVER HAVING A DISCHARGE OPENING THEREIN, MEANS TO SUPPORT A ROLL OFSHEET MATERIAL WITHIN SAID HOUSING, A DISCHARGE OPENING IN SAID COVER, AGUIDE CHUTE TO GUIDE SAID MATERIAL FROM SAID ROLL TO SAID DICHARGEOPENING, A DRIVE ROLL EXTENDING WITHIN SAID CHUTE AND ROTATABLY MOUNTEDBELOW SAID CHUTE WITHIN SAID HOUSING, A PRESSURE ROLL ROTATABLY MOUNTEDWITHIN SAID HOUSING ABOVE SAID GUIDE CHUTE AND EXTENDING THEREWITHIN ANDIN CONTACT WITH SAID DRIVE ROLL, RESILIENT MEANS BIASING SAID PRESSUREROLL AGAINST SAID DRIVE ROLL, AND MOTOR MEANS MOUNTED WITHIN SAIDHOUSING AND IN DRIVING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID DRIVE ROLL.